Bodycam Shows Officer Tackle Teen Trying To Run In Front Of Train

WAUKEGAN, IL — Police released Monday body camera video from an officer who tackled a teenage girl as she attempted to take her own life by running in front of an oncoming train. Officer Christopher Harris, K9 Officer Andrew Orozco and dispatchers were able to track the girl down early Friday morning on the tracks at the South Avenue crossing just before a train arrived, police said.

Dispatchers had received a 911 call from the girl's sister at 1:40 a.m. and were able to quickly track her using her cell phone to the area, according to Commander Joe Florip. As officers checked the area a few minutes later, the girl emerges from behind a mechanical shed and appears to be trying to get in front of a northbound train.

"Come here, come here," Harris says, running toward the girl as the crossing gates close and the train's horn blows. He tackles her and the video ends. Police said she was unharmed and taken to a hospital for psychological evaluation.

Waukegan Police Chief Wayne Walles said the quick action of patrol officers and emergency telecommunicators who were able to "ping" the girl's phone to the area prevented her death.

“I am extremely proud of these officers who, through their heroic actions, saved the life of a young woman," Walles said. "I am just as proud of our dispatch professionals who utilized their resources to locate the area of where this young woman was, and directed the responding officers to find her."

The dispatchers assisting during the response to the call were Dave Magnuson, Aldona Zelvis and Tysly Butler, along with supervisor Rebecca Kumar, according to Florip.

Over 44,000 Americans die by suicide each year, and in Illinois, one person dies by suicide every six hours, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Anyone experiencing thoughts of suicide call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 74174 or visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org, or call 911.